Wembley 'a special place' for Everton defender John Stones

Monday 16 Nov 2015
John Stones

John Stones is hoping to win his seventh cap for England on Tuesday when they meet France at Wembley.

The Everton defender had his first outing for the Three Lions under the arch against Peru in May last year and admits it is a "special place" for him.   

Stones last featured for Roy Hodgson's men in September, playing in both qualifiers against San Marino and Switzerland, but injury meant he missed last month's final Group E games.

England v France

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8pm, Tuesday 17 November 2015
Wembley Stadium connected by EE

But with Tuesday's friendly with the French going ahead following the tragic events in Paris, Stones would relish the opportunity to pull on the Three Lions once again.

"I went to watch a game at Wembley before, but to actually play there on my debut makes it a real special place to go," the 21-year-old Yorkshireman says in the England-France match programme.

"Our last five games there have all been wins and it really gives us confidence. 

"France have some top players and Olivier Giroud is one who is used to playing at Wembley and has been doing it for Arsenal. 

"The feeling of playing for England, though, blanks out the opposition and you just think about pulling on the Three Lions."

John Stones and Phil Jagielka go up against Olivier Giroud

John Stones has faced Olivier Giroud in the Premier League

The former Barnsley man, who moved to Goodison in January 2013 after more than 10 years with the Oakwell club, has already experienced two major international tournaments with his country.  

However, on both occasions - the U20s World Cup in 2013 and the UEFA U21s Championship this summer - England were eliminated in the group stages. 

Stones missed the first two games of the U21s Euros after a training ground accident left him with concussion, though he did feature in their final game of the tournament as defeat to Italy sent them out.

But he believes that learning from those experiences in the England development teams makes him hungry to improve, should he be in Hodgson's squad for France 2016. 

John Stones and Harry Kane during training at the U21s Euros

John Stones and Harry Kane during training at the U21s Euros

"It was a difficult time," he said. "When I took that knock in training and was concussed, at first I thought I was fine, but the next day I felt so bad. 

"It was a really strange. After all the preparations it was a low blow.

"We faced some good teams out there, though, and were disappointed because we wanted to do it for Gareth [Southgate] and for us as a team. 

"We were such a tight group and should have done better." 

He added: "As a player you want to better yourself from previous experiences and put things right.

"The experiences of playing, spending time together as a team and learning from the coaches, you’ll never forget those things and you have to take it into the tournaments." 

By Jamie Bradbury FA Editor at the England Team hotel